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Topic: Any suggestions re shipping companies for a steel guitar? |
Lavonne Dougall
From:
British Columbia, Canada
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Posted 22 Nov 2013 12:57 pm |
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Hi, I just bought a steel guitar in Canada and I need to ship it to Sierra Madre, California. Any ideas of a good trustworthy shipping company that can be trusted with a valuable instrument? Any tips much appreciated!
La Vonne Dougall
Last edited by Lavonne Dougall on 24 Nov 2013 9:35 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Paul King
From:
Gainesville, Texas, USA
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Posted 22 Nov 2013 5:54 pm
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| I have a friend who just bought a steel from Canada. I will give him a call and get some info for you. |
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Lavonne Dougall
From:
British Columbia, Canada
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Posted 24 Nov 2013 9:40 am bump
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Joe Naylor
From:
Avondale, Arizona, USA
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Posted 25 Nov 2013 4:04 am shipping
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I use FedEx for steelseats and I know several steel builders do too. Interesting enough the US Post Office is not bad either. I have discussed this several times with builders and most all agree. Post Office works well to Europe for example too.
My experience
Joe Naylor
www.steelseat.com
_________________
Joe Naylor, Avondale, AZ (Phoenix) Announcer/Emcee owner www.steelseat.com *** OFFERING SEATS AND Effects cases with or without legs and other stuff ****** -Desert Rose Guitar S-10, Life Member of the Arizona Carport Pickers Assoc., Southwest Steel Guitar Assoc., Texas Steel Guitar Assoc., GA Steel Guitar Assoc., KS Steel Guitar Assoc. (Asleep at the Steel) tag line willed to me by a close late friend RIP |
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Jack Stoner
From:
Kansas City, MO
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Posted 25 Nov 2013 4:57 am
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| You can read "horror stories" from almost any shipping company. I don't think there is a "best" company. |
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Joe Naylor
From:
Avondale, Arizona, USA
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Posted 25 Nov 2013 5:09 am Yes
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Jack that is why I put on my note
My Experience
Just had good luck since I bought steelseats about 6 years ago.
I just mentioned my good experience - there is another one that I did not have good luck with and will not ship via that one unless the customer says that is what they want. But I advise against that.
Joe Naylor
www.steelseat.com
_________________
Joe Naylor, Avondale, AZ (Phoenix) Announcer/Emcee owner www.steelseat.com *** OFFERING SEATS AND Effects cases with or without legs and other stuff ****** -Desert Rose Guitar S-10, Life Member of the Arizona Carport Pickers Assoc., Southwest Steel Guitar Assoc., Texas Steel Guitar Assoc., GA Steel Guitar Assoc., KS Steel Guitar Assoc. (Asleep at the Steel) tag line willed to me by a close late friend RIP |
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Jack Stoner
From:
Kansas City, MO
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Posted 25 Nov 2013 5:29 am
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| Joe, just commenting from posts I've seen here and elsewhere. I haven't had any problems with FedEx or UPS, but others have. |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 25 Nov 2013 8:40 am
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| I had to take FedEx to court to get paid for an Emmons p/p that they busted up. I had it insured and they refused to do anything. So the judge had to settle the matter (in my favor by the way). |
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Greg Cutshaw
From:
Corry, PA, USA
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Posted 25 Nov 2013 12:08 pm
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You are best to pack it yourself. I've received them in peanuts with the guitar/case poking out one corner of the box but not damaged, in the case only surrounded by cardboard but not damaged and shipped a few successfully using the method below:
http://www.gregcutshaw.com/Shipping%20Steels/Shipping%20Steels.html
For an even more protective packing you can either surround it in hard foam or build up thick foam corners that will suspend it in a box similar to this:
http://www.gregcutshaw.com/Shipping%20Amps/Shipping%20Amps.html
If it's packed poorly you are at the mercy of the shipper. It may be fine or it may get destroyed. If it's packed professionally by yourself, you don't have to be nearly as exposed to the shipper's poor handling processes.
Greg |
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Chris Lucker
From:
Los Angeles, California USA
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Posted 25 Nov 2013 1:26 pm
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Do not use peanuts for packing material.
Buy at least one wardrobe box, three sheets of 1 1/2 to 2 inch styrofoam sheet, a roll of that six inch wide cellophane packing wrap, and find a couple short lengths of 2x4. You will also need some scraps of bubble wrap.
Use bubble wrap to pack the inside of the case so NOTHING has room to move. Block the pedal rack/leg compartment with short lengths of 2x4 so the guitar body will not bust out the divider. You can also use short lengths of three or four inch diameter ABS or PVC or cardboard carpet roll tube.
Wrap the case tightly with the plastic wrap.
Make a box around your steel case using the 2 inch thick styrofoam sheet. Use the plastic wrap again to meet things tight and tidy. You will want to double the styrofoam to allow for the space the handle needs.
Tailor the new cardboard box to snugly fit around your styrofoam sheet protected case. Use your extra styrofoam to add protection at the ends and anywhere else. Use it all.
I ship my Emmons guitars in a Factory Emmons box and then make the styrofoam box surround, etc.
You will forget which end is up, but if you pack this well, it will not matter.
Pray that Customs does not undo all your careful packing and lazily uses less than half of it when repacking. That has been my experience twice, which is why I no longer buy or ship guitars that must go through Customs.
_________________
Chris Lucker
Red Bellies, Bigsbys and a lot of other guitars. |
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